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# Multiwaveband polarimetric observations of NRAO 530 on parsec‐scale

(Impact Factor: 5.52). 10/2010; 408(2):841 - 848. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17193.x
Source: arXiv

ABSTRACT We report on Very Long Baseline Array polarimetric observations of NRAO 530 at 5, 8, 15, 22 and 43 GHz made during one week in 1997 February. We present the total intensity, the fractional polarization and the electric vector position angle (EVPA) distributions at all these frequencies. A model fitting has been performed to the full polarization visibility data. From this, the fitted southernmost component A is confirmed as the core of the radio structure with relatively high brightness temperature and hard spectrum between 15 and 43 GHz in comparison with the central component B of dominant flux. The relatively high degree of polarization for the component A may arise from its complex radio structure, which can be resolved at 86 GHz. In contrast, the component B shows a well-fitted power-law spectrum with a spectral index of about −0.5 (f∝να), and a linear correlation between EVPAs and wavelength square with an observed rotation measure of about −1062 rad m−2, indicating its structural singleness. Assuming that the component B has a comparable degree of polarization without depolarization at these frequencies, the decrease in fractional polarization with wavelength mainly results from opacity and Faraday rotation, in which the opacity plays quite a large role. A spine-sheath-like structure in fractional polarization (m) is detected, covering almost the whole emission region at 5 and 8 GHz, with a degree of polarization relatively low along the jet spine, becoming higher towards two sides of the jet. The linear polarization at 5 GHz shows three separate polarized emission regions with alternately aligned and orthogonal polarization vectors down the jet. The polarization goes to zero between the top two regions, with the highest polarization level occurring at the top and bottom. The 5- and 8-GHz images show EVPA changes across the width of the jet as well as along the jet. These complex polarimetric properties can be explained in terms of either the presence of a large helical magnetic field or tangled magnetic fields compressed and sheared down the jet. These can be further determined by multifrequency polarimetric very long baseline interferometry observations with sufficient high resolution and sensitivity spanning an appropriate frequency range.

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##### Article: High-frequency very long baseline interferometry studies of NRAO 530
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ABSTRACT: NRAO 530 is an optically violent variable source and has been studied with multi-epoch multi-frequency high-resolution VLBI observations. NRAO 530 was monitored with the VLBA at three frequencies (22, 43 and 86 GHz) on 10 consecutive days in 2007 May during observations of the Galactic Center (Sgr A*). Furthermore, analysis of archival data of NRAO 530 at 15 GHz over the last ten years allows us to study its detailed jet kinematics. We identified the compact component located at the southern-end of the jet as the VLBI core, consistent with previous studies. The 10-d monitoring data at the 3 high frequencies were shown to produce high quality and self-consistent measurements of the component positions, from which we detected for the first time a two-dimensional frequency-dependent position shift. In addition, the repeated measurements also permit us to investigate the interday flux density and structure variability of NRAO 530. We find that it is more variable for the inner jet components than those further out. We obtained apparent velocities for eight jet components with $\beta_{\rm app} ranging from 2 to 26 c. Accordingly, we estimated physical jet parameters with the minimum Lorentz factor of 14 and Doppler factors in the range of 14--28 (component f). The changes in the morphology of NRAO 530 were related to the motion of separate jet components with the most pronounced changes occurring in the regions close to the core. For NRAO 530, we estimated a P.A. swing of$3^{\circ}.4$per year for the entire inner jet (components d and e). The non-ballistic motion and change of jet orientation makes this source another prominent example of a helical and possibly swinging' jet. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 07/2011; 418(4). DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19537.x · 5.23 Impact Factor • Source ##### Article: The Core-like Nature of HST-1 in the M87 Jet [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: We investigate the total flux density, spectral, polarization, and Faraday rotation variability of HST-1 in the M87 jet during the outburst from 2003 to 2007 through multi-epoch VLA observations at 8, 15, and 22 GHz. Contrary to the general case for blazars, the flux densities of HST-1 rise earlier at lower frequencies from radio to X-ray, and the spectra are softening with the growth of outburst, indicating that the newly emerging subcomponents within HST-1 have relatively steep spectra. In particular, the intrinsic EVPA varies monotonically by$\sim90^\circ\$ at the 3 wavebands during the period, and all but the stationary subcomponent in the eastern end of HST-1 move downstream superluminally deviating divergently from the overall jet direction, with the motion of the outmost subcomponent bending from one side of the jet axis to another. These strongly argue for the presence of helical magnetic fields around HST-1, which is also supported by the fact that the subcomponents might be accelerated in this region. The fractional polarization is relatively low in the rising stage, and in the decaying stage the polarization levels are almost comparable at the 3 wavebands. In view of the quite large RM values, Faraday rotation is expected to occur dominantly external to HST-1 in the decaying stage, which is well supported by the presence of diffuse emission around HST-1, and consistent with the scenario that RM decrease gets slower with time.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 07/2011; 416. DOI:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2011.01110.x · 5.23 Impact Factor
• ##### Article: Peculiar Physical Properties of HST-1 in M87
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ABSTRACT: We report on VLA observations of HST-1 in M87 at 8 GHz from 2003-2007, during which a long major outburst occurs from radio to X-ray wave bands. At the VLA resolution, the flux density of HST-1 rises rapidly from 2003, peaks at the end of 2004, and then falls slowly in subsequent stages, which is similar to that in optical and X-ray wave bands. It appears that HST-1 moves with an apparent speed of 1.23 c±0.91 c, and the fractional polarization keeps rising through the whole major outburst. The persistent increase in polarization level may mainly be attributed to the formation of a couple of new subcomponents' of relatively high degree of polarization within HST-1, and the weakening depolarization due to Faraday rotation and/or opacity through the whole major outburst.
Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy 06/2011; 32:25-28. DOI:10.1007/s12036-011-9049-9 · 0.50 Impact Factor